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Brett Whiteley

(Australia, England 07 Apr 1939–15 Jun 1992)

Title
Totem I (black - the get laid totem)
Other titles:
Totem 1
The get laid totem
Black Totem Egg
Year
1978-1988
Media category
Sculpture
Materials used
fibreglass and wood
Dimensions

284.5 x 170.2 x 61.0cm

Signature & date
Not signed. Not dated.
Credit
Purchased by the New South Wales State Government 1994, transferred to the Gallery 1998
Accession number
349.1998.a-c
Copyright
© Wendy Whiteley
Location
Not on display
Further information

"Sculpture is totemic, phallic, something that grows upwards from the earth or from the gallery floor." Brett Whiteley

As a young boy, Whiteley was fascinated with bird's eggs and nests, often collecting them and persuading others to collect for him as well. The egg - a recurring element in his work - is traditionally a symbol of fertility. Brancusi considered it the perfect form. Whiteley has evoked a sense of celebration by exaggerating size and scale to create this fantasy totem. He was also fascinated by the traditional burial poles of northern Australian aborigines which he saw at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. In them he saw a sense of growing upwards from the ground.

A different vision, Brett Whiteley Studio exhibition catalogue, 1998

Bibliography (5)

'A different vision' by Barbara Konkolowicz., A different vision 1998, 1998, (illus.). titled 'The get laid totem'

Barry Pearce (Australia) (Author), Brett Whiteley Art & Life, London, 1995, 205 (colour illus.). plate no. 143(b)

'Still life' by Janet Hawley, pg. 18-24., Good Weekend Magazine 02 Jul 1994, 02 Jul 1994, 21 (colour illus., detail), 22. titled 'Black Totem Egg'

'A few takes on Brett Whiteley' by Robert Gray, pg. 216-224., Art and Australia (Vol. 24, No. 2) Summer 1986, Summer 1986, 223 (illus.).

'Brett Whiteley' by Humphrey McQueen pg. 45-52., Art and Australia (Vol. 17, No. 1) Sep 1979, Sep 1979, 50 (illus.).

Exhibition history (11)

Birds and animals, Robin Gibson Gallery, 10 Apr 1979–05 May 1979.

Life and death, Australian Galleries, Melbourne, 28 May 1983–18 Jun 1983.

Birds (1988), The Brett Whiteley Studio, 05 Jul 1988–19 Jul 1988.

Brett Whiteley Art & Life (1995-1996), Art Gallery of New South Wales, 16 Sep 1995–19 Nov 1995.

Brett Whiteley Art & Life (1995-1996), Museum and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory, 13 Dec 1995–28 Jan 1996.

Brett Whiteley Art & Life (1995-1996), Art Gallery of Western Australia, 22 Feb 1996–08 Apr 1996.

Brett Whiteley Art & Life (1995-1996), Art Gallery of South Australia, 09 May 1996–16 Jun 1996.

Brett Whiteley Art & Life (1995-1996), Art Gallery of New South Wales, 02 Jul 1996–26 Aug 1996.

Brett Whiteley Art & Life (1995-1996), Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, 18 Sep 1996–17 Nov 1996.

A Different Vision - Brett Whiteley Sculptures (1998), The Brett Whiteley Studio, 04 Apr 1998–23 Aug 1998.

Australian icons: twenty artists from the collection, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 04 Aug 2000–03 Dec 2000.